Choosing the Best Place for Children to do Homework

According to Angela Norton Tyler, author of Tutor Your Child to Reading Success, children don't need a lot of space, but they do need to create a specific spot to do their homework.

In an ideal world, all children would have sturdy desks and comfy chairs, huge areas to spread out materials, bulletin boards, computers, and easy-to-reach bookshelves. In real life, however, clearing off the kitchen table or counter during homework time is fine. Just be sure the space has adequate lighting, plenty of homework supplies, and proper posture for perfect penmanship.

Ms. Tyler also explains that a good homework helper makes it possible for a student to become an independent, self-sufficient, and highly motivated learner.

Contrary to most media images, being a great homework helper does NOT mean:

Hovering- sitting next to the child while he does his homework. You don't even have to be in the same room!

Prompting- giving hints and answers.

Convincing- bribing the child to start and finish his homework, threatening him if he doesn't do it, promising him the world if he would just do it. What a waste of your time and energy.

Plus, none of these things work in the long-run.

Tomorrow: Keeping Noise Level Down When Kids do Homework

Where do the students you care for do their homework?